Crimping mechanism for wire-fence machines.



No. 818,408. PATENTED FEB. 27', 1906.

W. M. DILLON & P. PRANTZ. ORIMPING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904. RENEWED AUG. 17, 1905.

3 SHEETS-$HEET 1.

No. 813,408. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. W. M. DILLON & P. FRANTZ.

GRIMPING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 190 1. RENEWED AUG.17, 1905.

' 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

attozwmg No. 818,408. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. W. M. DILLON & P. FBANTZ.GRIMPING MECHANISM FOR WIRE FENCE MACHINES.

' APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904. RENEWED AUG. 17, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

annex bow attozm e1 WASHINGTON M. DILLON AND PETER FRANTZ, OF STERLING,ILLINOIS.

CRIIVIPING MECHANISM FOR WIRE-FENCE MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed August 17,1904. Renewed August 1'7, 1905. Serial No.274,646.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WASHINGTON M. DIL- LON and PETER FRANTZ, citizensof the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of I/Vhitesideand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Crimping Mechanism for WVire-Fence Ma chines; and we do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

Our invention has reference to crimping mechanism for wire-fencemachines, and is specially designed to assist in producing the style offence shown and described in Letters Patent of the -United States No.755,637, issued March 29, 1904, to W. M. Dillon.

In the present application our invention is shown as substituted for thecrimping devices illustrated and set forth in Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 739,846, issued Sep tember 29, 1903, to P. Frantz; butby changes in the structure and arrangement of the parts the same can beadapted to be used in other machines which produce a square-mesh fence.In the following specification only those parts of the old machine willbe referred to which are pertinent to the operation of the crimpingmechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying ourinvention with some of the parts removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe rear portion of the machine, showing parts of our invention in endview. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4shows parts of the operating mechanism of our invention in detail. Fig.5 is an enlarged detail of parts thereof in plan view. Fig. 6 is adetail of one of the dies 18 in elevation. Fig. 7 is a plan view of ourdevice in detail.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1. 1 represent the frame of the machine, united at each end bycross-plates 2 and 3. J ournaled on the under side of the frame 1 is amain shaft 4, at one end of which the power is applied in any usualmethod to operate the machine. On the opposite end of the shaft 4 is agear-pinion 5, actuating a gear-wheel 6 on the end of a rotaryshaft 7,supported beneath the frame 1, parallel with the shaft 4.

8 8 represent a series of strand-wires in their progress through themachine, and 9 9 transverse wires, having their ends coiled upon thestrand-wires at regular intervals to form the fence. The wires 8 aresuitably drawn through the machine with an inter mittent or step-by-stepmovement. I

Pivotally secured to the cross-plate 2, as at a, Fig. 3, is a pair oflevers 10, provided at their free ends with rollers 11, which engage thefaces of a pair of cam-wheels 12, fixed on the shaft 7, such leversbeing supported at their free ends by the earns 12. Having virticalmovement in ways 13 on the inner faces of the frame is a cross-bar 14,such bar being supported on the levers by means of sli'de blocks 15 onthe lower face of such bar. A channel 16 extends longitudinally of thebar 14, supported in such channel being a slide-bar 17, so as to becapable of reciprocating movement therein transversely of the machine.Fixed on the bar 14 is a series of dies 18, and. on the bar 17 issecured a series of dies 19, corresponding in number with the dies 18and adapted to be brought simultaneously into proximity with saidlast-named dies upon the bar 17 being suitably operated. Fulcrumed inthe channel 16 beneath the bar 17 is a bell-crank lever 20, having itsupper arm secured to the slide-bar 17 by means of a link 21. Fixed onthe shaft 7 is a cam 22, having a track 23, engaged by a follower 24,projecting from the lower arm of the lever 20. By this means eachrotation of the shaft 7 operates to reciprocate the bar 17 and bring thedies 19 into proximity with the dies 18.

Transversely of the die 18 is a \I-shaped channel 25, and the die 19 issimilarly provided with a channel 26. The dies 18 and 19 are so disposedupon the bars 14 and 17, respectively, that the space between each pairthereof is just below one of the strand-wires 8, and in the crimpingoperation said wires are embraced between the several pairs of dies, thewires 9 being accommodated by the channels and. 26. IWhen in thisposition, the coils of each adj accnt pair of stay-wires are held fromlateral movement by ribs 27 and 28 on the inner faces of the dies 18 and19, respectively, the strand-wire being bent or crimped on one side ofthe coils by a jaw 29 on the die 18 and on the other side of the coilsby a similar jaw 30 on the die 19. The strand-wire is further h eldwhile b eing crimped by vertical ribs 31 and 32 on the dies 18 and 19,respectively.

Secured at each side on the frame 1 is a pair of supports 33, in theupper ends of which is journaled a rock-shaft 34, fixed on which is apair of levers 35, having the ends of their long arms loosely connectedwith the levers 10 by means of the vertical rods 36. Depending from theshort ends of the levers 35 is a pair of racks 37, supporting at theirlower ends a pair of transverse parallel bars 38, which are normallyheld a short distance above the wires 8, so as not to interfere with thepassage thereof. J ournaled in the supports 33 is a rockshaft 39, fixedon which is a series of short arms 40, having at their outer ends claws41. The arrangement of the arms 40 is such that each of the strand-wires8 is adapted to be embraced by one of the claws 41 upon the properoperation of thereof. To the end of the shaft 39 is secured an arm 42,provided with a roller 43, engaging the face of a cam-wheel 44 on oneend of the shaft 7.

To recapitulate, the operation of the crimping mechanism is as follows:In the progress of the wires 8 through the machine and after the wires 9have been secured thereon each intermittent movement of the strand-wiresoperates to bring a series of stay-wires immediately above thecrimping-bar in position to be engaged by the dies thereon. By therotation of the cams 12 at the proper time the levers 10 and bar 14 areraised until each of the wires 8 occupies one of the spaces between onepair of dies 18 and 19. The upward movement of the levers 10 rocks thelevers 35, resulting in the downward movement of the racks 37 and bars38 until such bars rest upon the wires 8 on each side of the bar 14 andprevent the accidental movement of the wires from between the dies.While in this position the bar 17 is reciprocated, bringing the dies 1.9into close proximity with the dies 18 and forming the crimps in thestrand-wires. In the forming of the crimp there is a tendency to forcethat part of the strand-wire adjacent thereto out of line, whichtendency is overcome by the use of the ribs 31 and 32 on the inner facesof the dies. The rock-shaft 39 and claws 41 constitute an auxiliarydevice which may be used or not, as desired, the purpose thereof beingto overcome any danger of the stay-wires getting out of alinement, so asnot to properly enter the channels 25 and 26 in the dies. When suchparts are used, as the wires 8 near the end of a movement, the shaft 39rocks sufficiently to cause the claws 41 to engage the wires 8 and holdany stay-wires which may be in advance of the other stay-wires untilsuch other wires come in line therewith. As the bar 14 is raised theclaws are again elevated, so as not to interfere with the dies thereon.After the crimps have been formed in the wires the dies again separatethrough the return movement of the bar 17, and the bar 14 is lowered topermit the further passage of the wires.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is-

1. A crimping device for wire-fence machines, comprising a crimping-bar,capable of vertical lay in the machine; a series of stationary d ies,fixed on said bar; a slide-bar, adapted to be supported in saidcrimpingbar, so as to oscillate therein; a series of dies, secured onsaid slide-bar, and adapted to be severally brought into proximity withone of said stationary dies upon the proper operation of said slide-bar,the adjacent faces of the several pairs of dies being adapted tosuitably embrace the strand-wires of the fence and crimp the same onopposite sides of the stay-wire coils; a pair of parallel cross-bars, onopposite sides of the crimping-bar; means for suitably raising andlowering the crimping-bar; means for suitably oscillating saidslide-bar, to bring said last-named dies into proximity with saidfirst-named series of dies; and means for lowering said parallel barsupon the strand-wires simultaneously with the raising of saidcrimping-bar, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. In a crimping device for wire-fence machines, the combination, withthe frame 1, of the cross-bar 14, having vertical play therein, andprovided with the channel 16, the slide-bar 17, supported in the bar 14,and adapted to oscillate therein; the dies 18,fixed on the bar 14, andprovided on their inner faces with ribs 27 and jaws 29; the dies 19,fixed on the slide-bar 17, and provided on their inner faces with ribs28 and jaws 30; means for suitably raising and lowering the bar 14, andmeans for suitably oscillating the slide-bar 17, to bring the adjacentfaces of the dies 18 and 19 into proximity, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In a crimping device for wire-fence machines, the combination of theverticallymovable bar 14, suitably mounted in the machine and providedon its upper face with a series of dies 18, the slide-bar 17, sup ortedin the bar 14 so as to have oscillation t erein, and provided on itsupper face with the dies 19, the rock-shaft 39 suitably mounted on theframe 1, the series of arms 40, secured on the shaft 39 and providedwith claws41; means for suitably rocking the shaft 39; means for raisingand lowering the bar 14, and means for oscillating the slide-bar 17substantially as set forth.

4, In a crimping device for wire-fence machines, the combination of thebar 14, provided with the channel 16; the slide-bar 17, suitably mountedin the recess 16, to oscillate therein; the series of dies 18, fixed onthe upper face of the bar 14; the series of dies 19, fixed on the upperface of the slide-bar 17 and adapted to be brought into proximity withthe dies 18, upon the oscillation of the bar 17, the parallel bars 38,suitably supported on opposite sides of the bar 14; the arms 40,suitably mounted above the strandwires of the fence and provided withclaws 41 means for operating the arms 40, to cause the claws thereon toengage said strand-wires means for raising the bar 14; means forsimultaneously lowering the bars 38; and means for oscillating theslide-bar 17, substantially as shown and set forth.

5. In a crimping device for Wire-fence machines, the combination of theoscillatin bar 17, provided with a series of dies 19, the ever 20,pivoted beneath said bar 17, and connected therewith by means of thelink 21, and means for operating the lever 20 to oscillate the bar 17,substantially as set forth.

6. In a crimping device for wire-fence machines, the combination of therock-shaft 34, suitably mounted on the frame of the machine; the arms35, fixed thereon, racks 37, supported by the arms 35 cross-bars 38,supported by the racks 37 and means for suitably operating the arms 85substantially as shown and described.

7 In a crimping device for wire-fence machines, wherein the fence isformed with series of stay-wires in substantial alinement transverselyof the fence, the combination, with series of dies adapted to formcrimps in the strand-wires of the fence at the points of junction of thestay-Wires therewith, of a rock-shaft, a series of arms mounted on suchrock-shaft, corresponding in number and vertically in line with thestrand-wires, such arms being provided with claws adapted to engage thestrand-wires, and bring the several stay-wires of a series intotransverse alinement thereon, and means for suitably rocking such shaft,substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

WASHINGTON M. DILLON.

PETER FRANTZ. Witnesses as to signature of Washington M. Dillon:

C. A. STUL'rs, A. H. DILLON. Witnesses as to signature or i'eter Frantz:

JONATHAN FRANTZ, GRAoE BUCKLEY.

